July 30, 2025

WASHINGTON -- A group of eight oil and natural gas trade associations today highlighted their strong support for the bipartisan "Standardized Permitting and Expediting Development Act" (SPEED Act). In a letter, the group wrote that the bill introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) “makes many significant changes that would positively impact our members’ ability to produce energy in America.”

The coalition is comprised of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, Energy Workforce & Technology Council, Gulf Energy Alliance, International Association of Drilling Contractors, National Ocean Industries Association, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, U.S. Oil & Gas Association, and Western Energy Alliance. Combined, these groups represent over 80 percent of domestic oil and natural gas production in the United States.

The group’s letter details how the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and applications have grown since its enactment 50 years ago and the courts, Presidential directives, and agencies’ implementation of NEPA regulations have made NEPA unworkable and far more complicated than its original intent. The federal government’s “paper chase” hinders efforts to find innovative solutions to protect the environment, unlock investment and create jobs. The SPEED Act addresses many of the most pressing issues surrounding NEPA delays and will provide durable solutions to help expedite much needed infrastructure projects across the country.

Earlier in July the coalition called on lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to “take swift action on permitting reform.” In a letter to Chairman Westerman ahead of an oversight hearing held by the Natural Resources Committee.

The following are statements from members of the coalition on support for the SPEED Act:

• Dan Naatz, COO and EVP of the Independent Petroleum Association of America: “American energy producers appreciate Chairman Westerman and Congressman Golden’s efforts to address delays the NEPA process has brought to building out much-needed energy infrastructure. The Independent Petroleum Association of America supports the SPEED Act – the legislation’s reforms to our nation’s permitting system provide a balanced effort of environmental stewardship and the timely decision making needed for economic investment.”

• Tim Tarpley, president of Energy Workforce & Technology Council: “The SPEED Act is a win for American energy and infrastructure. By cutting red tape, reducing frivolous lawsuits, and restoring common sense to NEPA, this bill ensures projects get built on time and on budget. Steps taken by the SPEED Act are especially critical for the energy services sector, where permitting delays stall job creation, investment, and innovation. Energy Workforce & Technology Council supports this legislation because it delivers the certainty needed to power our economy and keep America competitive.”

• Erik Milito, president of the National Ocean Industries Association: “We commend Representatives Westerman and Golden for their bipartisan leadership on the SPEED Act, a timely and serious step toward modernizing America’s permitting system. Offshore energy companies are ready to invest and innovate across oil and gas, wind, carbon capture, deep sea mining, and emerging technologies. But outdated, unpredictable permitting continues to delay progress and deter investment, especially in one of the most complex regulatory environments in the world. The SPEED Act lays a strong foundation for reform, recognizing that energy development and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. We look forward to working with Congress to strengthen the bill and deliver the reliable, durable permitting system our energy future requires.”

• Karr Ingham, Economist, president, Texas Alliance of Energy Producers: “The Alliance applauds Chairman Westerman’s leadership in this bipartisan effort to reduce barriers to energy production.  The need is especially acute in Texas, where access to markets for Texas and U.S.-produced crude oil and natural gas is critical and has long been hampered by abuses in the permitting process.  Additional pipeline and export capacity, including new LNG export facilities, is required to support the extraordinary growth in production accomplished by the U.S. domestic oil and gas industry.  Furthermore, moving products to domestic and global markets more quickly meets growing energy needs at home and abroad, meets those needs in much cleaner fashion compared to non-U.S. production, and reduces the need to flare natural gas. Enactment of the SPEED Act will go a very long way toward enhancing development of cost effective projects that will expand delivery of high quality energy in Texas, the US, and around the world.”

• Tim Stewart, president of the U.S. Oil & Gas Association: “It’s not a lack of interest or capital, knowhow or need holding American industry back, it is an artificial legal and regulatory morass which has been built up over decades.  Federal agencies now prioritize process over outcome. The SPEED Act cuts through all that.   If America wants to start building things again, we need to do this.”

• Melissa Simpson, president of Western Energy Alliance: “The Alliance has been in court for a decade now defending oil and natural gas producers targeted by activist groups who use perceived NEPA deficiencies to halt federal leasing. It shouldn’t take that long to work through what the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously agreed is a procedural requirement, not a roadblock, to inform federal agencies and the public. We appreciate Chairman Westerman for prioritizing reasonable limits to judicial reviews on NEPA and courtroom obstructionism in the SPEED Act.”

The full letter to Chairman Westerman supporting the SPEED Act is available here.

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